Book support and line indicator



April 2, 1940. P. P. GREICIUS BOOK SUPPORT AND LINE INDICATOR Filed May17, 1957 l INVENTOR H l S ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1940 STATES PATENT,omcEf 2,195,177 1 BOOK SUPPORT AND; LINE INDICATOR Peter P.Greiciuspbhioago, Ill. 2' Application my 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,194

2 Claims. (01. 120-33).

reach 46 is not arranged in true parallel relation My invention relatesto books and includes among its-objects and advantages the provision ofan improved book support and line indicator. An'object'of-my. inventionis to provide a book sup-port sov designed as toeffectively support abook in-1an open position at an angle to the horizontal and in which anovel line indicator is associated withthe support in such a manner asto be readily movable across the page or pages of the book.

-':A'- further1-object1 is to provide abook support including'aline-indicator in which the' indicator is 'sdetachably connected withthe support. The supportalsotincludes adjustment for books of differentsizes;

.In the accompanying drawing:

.Fig; 1' is a perspective view of my invention illustrating a booksupported thereby;

Fig. 2' is a sectional viewjalong the line 22 of Fig-.1 with partsbroken away for the sake of compactnessyw Fig; '3-is'asectional viewalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;. =2)

Fig. "4 is a. sectional view along theline 4-4 of.Fig."2;" @19 ffii Fig.5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one form of line indicator.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use of twopieces of wire indicated generally at I8 and I2. Wire I8 is bent at l4,l6, l8, and 28 to provide an inverted U-shaped supporting element orabutment 22. Wire [8 is again bentat 24 and 2 6 to provide convergingreaches 28.

Wire 12 is bent at 38 and 32 and shaped between the bends to provide acurved reach 34.

The wire is bent at 36 and 38 to provide substantially parallel andvertically positioned reaches 48 which, in turn, are bent at 42 and 44to provide diverging reaches 46 arranged in parallel relation with theconverging reaches 28.

Reaches 2B and 46 are slidably connected. Each reach 28 carries aflattened sleeve 48 at its ends, which sleeve loosely embraces theadjacent reach 46. In Fig. 4, I illustrate the sleeve 48 as being weldedat 58 to its reach 28. Similarly, a flattened sleeve 52 is welded'toeach end of each reach 46 and slidably embraces the adjacent reach 28.Thus, the reaches 28 and 46 are adjustably connected, which permits thesupport to be adjusted to vary the distance between the vertical reaches48 and the supporting element 22. While one reach 28 and its associatedwith the other reaches 28. and 46, the flexible nature of the wirepermits adjustment within necessary limits depending upon therequirements of the book. For general purposes, one adjustmentis'suflicient since the book may project a considerable distance beyondthe vertical reaches 48.

In operation, thebook isplaced on the support with the back of the bookaligned with the curved reach 34 withone end of the book abutting theU-shaped element 22. With the book opened, the, back will lie within thecurved reach 34 with the covers 54 lying on the reaches 56 betweenthe'bends 38 and 36and 32and 38. Reaches 48, 34, and 56 define asupporting element which supports the book at an angle to thehorizontal. The lower end of the book has abutting relation with thesupporting element 22, which element lies in aplane at a slight angle tothe vertical,

as illustrated in Fig. 2. Reaches 56 and reach 34have a total lengthless than the width of the average book'when opened. Thus, the book willextend beyond the points of bend 36 and'38 which loads the outer-marginsof the book in such a manner as to hold the book in an open positionwhile the curved reach 34 is of sufiicient depth to accommodate the backof all types of books.

Frequently, it is desirable to utilize a line indicator. To this end Ipivotally connect a rectangularly shaped loop or link 58 with the bight68 of the supporting element 22. Loop 58 comprises a piece of wire bentto provide a reach 62 and two reaches 64 fixedly connected with a tube66 pivotally mounted on the reach 68. A rod 68 is pivotally connectedwith the reach 62 by a U-shaped connecting element 18 shaped to embracethe reach 62 throughout'slightly more than 180, as illustrated in Fig.2. However, the connecting element 18 embodies sufficient resilientproperties to permit quick and easy connection ordisconnection. Theconnecting element 18 may be welded to one end of the rod 68, asindicated at 72 in Fig. 2.

Upon the rod 68 I slidably mount the line indicator 14. In Fig. 1, Iillustrate the line indicator 14 as comprising a sheet metal strap 16provided with a slot 18 of suificient widthto expose one line of readingmatter on either of the book pages 88. Strap I6 is slidably supportedwithin a flattened loop 82 having a sleeve 84 slidably mounted on therod 68. I fixedly connect a spring element 86 with the sleeve 84 andshape its end 88 so as to have pressure relation with the rod 68 forfrictionally holding the line indicator "M in different positionslongitudinally of the rod 88. Strap T6 is slidable within the flattenedloop 82 so that it may be shifted laterally of the rod 68 to accommodatea book page of different Widths. The indicator is so constructed as toexpose one line only at a time, but the indicator may be moved easilyalong the rod to any desired position.

In the event that the line indicator is not desired, it is removed bymerely disconnecting the element 10 from the reach 62. At this time theloop 58 may be pivoted about the bight 60 to position the loop in aplane common to the supporting element 22. The loop is so shaped as tobe housed within the supporting element so as to be in a position in theclear of the pages 80. With the loop 58 so positioned within thesupporting element 22, the pages may be turned without interference, andat the same time the loop is so positioned as to lie within the contourof the book support.

Tube 66 is so related to the bight 60 as to have frictional relationtherewith for positively supporting the loop in any of its differentpositions. In Fig. 5, I illustrate the manner in which frictionalrelation between the two parts is established. Originally, the bight 60is bowed slightly, as indicated in dotted lines 90. The tube is thenplaced in position, which causes the bight to substantially straighten,as indicated in full lines. Thus, the bight is flexed within the tube.The tensional forces incident to the straightened bight are of such adegree as to establish suflicient frictional relation between the bightand the tube for positively holding the loop 58 in diiierent positions.

Fig. 6 illustrates a difierent form of line indicator. In this form Iemploy a relatively thin metal strip 92 of a highly flexible nature. Oneend of the strip is provided with a loop 94 for slidably receiving therod 68. The opposite end of the strip 92 may be loaded, as indicated at96. In operation, the rod 68 will lie snugly in the groove defining theseparation between the pages 80, but the strip 92 will bend across thepage throughout its entire length. Weight 86 insures proper bending ofthe strip, in addition weighting it to such a degree as to hold itfirmly on the page.

Loop 58 is so shaped as to extend partly over the pages and may beutilized for holding the pages in an open position.

Fig. 2 illustrates the reaches 28 and 46 as being offset at 98 so as tobring the sleeves 48 and 52 out of contacting relation with the table orother support for the device. Thus, the support would balance regardlessof the position of the sleeves.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use undervarious conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a book support having means for holding a book in an inclinedposition in a position of rest on the support, said support having anabutment for engaging the lower end of the book on the support, saidabutment being in the nature of an inverted U with its bight positionedabove the upper face of the book on the support, a line indicatorsupporting rod arranged to extend longitudinally and centrally of theopen book on the support, and a link pivotally connected with the bightof the abutment and with one end of the line indicator supporting rod.

2. In a book support having means for holding a book in an inclinedposition in a position of rest on the support, said support having anabutment for engaging the lower end of the book on the support, saidabutment comprising a horizontal pivot having legs at its ends connectedwith the support for supporting the pivot, a line indicator supportingrod, a link pivotally connected with the pivot and with one end of theline indicator supporting rod, said link being movable about the pivotfor moving the pivoted end of the line indicator supporting rod towardand away from the book on the support, and being movable to a positionbetween said legs.

PETER P. GREICIUS.

